Cricket legend's Brighton home heads under the hammer
Cricket legend Wasim Akram is selling his treasured Melbourne home.
The Pakistani great - one of the most revered fast bowlers of all time - and his family divide time between Melbourne and overseas, and he and his wife Shaniera have decided put the much-loved house on the market.
The home goes under the auctioneer's hammer on Saturday November 25 at 2pm.
Agency Marshall White is tasked with the listing at 31 Whyte Street, Brighton, which is a bayside suburb where other icons of the game - the late spin king Shane Warne and the former Aussie captain Ricky Ponting - have also owned properties.
Listing: see more images here of the property
Akram took almost 1,000 international wickets in his test and One Day Iinternational career and was named in the respected Wisden Cricketers' Almanak's all-time Test World XI. He has records to his name including the most international hat tricks and sixes hit in a single Test innings. Post-retirement, he continues to be an important presence in the sport, currently as a commentator.
The 57-year-old, nicknamed the Sultan of Swing, and Mrs Akram, released a statement sharing the happiness they experienced in the contemporary, three-bedroom home over eight years. For the last 12 months, they have rented it out.
"We've loved owning this beautiful house and using it both as a home for our family and as an investment property that we've had some incredible tenants in," Mr Akram said.
Property Listings
"While there will always be a little part of me that's attached to this fantastic home, we're really happy to still be able to live in Brighton and enjoy everything this great area has to offer."
READ MORE: Unique shipping container home for sale in NSW is designed for 'grey nomads'
Mrs Akram described the suburb and what awaits the new owner as "beautiful".
"We're lucky to have the most incredible community around us in Brighton, and whoever buys this will be able to enjoy the beautiful beaches, the welcoming community and the fantastic schools that make this such a unique and wonderful area," she said.
Brighton Beach is famous for its colourful beach boxes, which are an icon of Victoria.
The Akram's three-bedroom house has the bonus of two living zones - one at the front, and the other part of the open-plan kitchen and lounge, warmed by an ambient fireplace. This unfolds to a rear deck.
The main bedroom is in a private wing, with a long bank of storage creating a hallway for seclusion, and has its own deck.
Marshall White director Jason Swift said the property was a "real catch" and a unique offering for buyer who appreciates location and sporting nostalgia.
READ MORE: Jindabyne home has a circus net above the living area and a fire pole
"This property is a real catch. It's not every day one of greatest bowlers of all time puts a house up for sale, so the lucky new owner will not just be buying a slice of paradise, but also a slice of cricketing history," Mr Swift said.
"This house opens up a world of opportunity for the buyer – it's ready to move into as a beautiful and modern family home or it can be rented out and used as an ideal investment."